CampaignBCA

The Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) has revised their curriculum and working in concert with the Orange County Buddhist Church Buddhist Education Center to extend the curriculum. IBS also offers a Chaplaincy program. The newly created Center for Buddhist Education (CBE) headed by Director Rev. Kodo Umezu has several programs designed to train ministerial candidates in the Minister Assistant Program, and enhance the careers of current BCA ministers in the Ministers Continuing Education Program, both being held at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, CA. The CBE is also working with the American Buddhist Study Center in New York City to extend CBE-approved educational offerings to the East Coast.

BCA purchased the property for the Jodo Shinshu Center in February 2003. Groundbreaking occurred in May 2005, and construction completed in July 2006. A Dedication Ceremony was held in October 2006 and was attended by as many as 350 people. The building houses the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS), the Center for Buddhist Education (CBE) and the U.S. site for Hongwanji-ha, and Ryukoku University. Facilities include four classrooms, a practice lecture hall, meeting space, administrative offices, the expanded BCA Bookstore (relocated from Headquarters in San Francisco), and residential housing for visiting scholars and international students, and dormitory space for future students.

The BCA along with the Center for Buddhist Education, the Institute of Buddhist Studies, Hongwanji-ha are developing a curriculum for ministerial candidates to study and eventually be ordained at the Jodo Shinshu Center, without the cost of traveling to Japan. This makes the process more accessible to those in the U.S. With the Jodo Shinshu Center completed, these organizations will work collaboratively on presenting new and interesting programs for ministerial candidates, ministers of all Buddhist sects, lay leaders, and the general public. Guest speakers and lecturers, and visiting scholars from all points in the world of Buddhism will work together, as well as distance-learning capability via the Internet will become available throughout the eight BCA districts.

The Youth Advocacy Committee (YAC) has been busy coordinating programs for high school and college youth. The YAC Annual Retreat will be held at the Jodo Shinshu Center in the summer of 2007, the Annual College Summer Retreat at the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Temple and Retreat Center is scheduled for July, 2007, and College Conference at the Jodo Shinshu Center in October 2007. For more information and registration, please visit the website at www.bcayouth.org.

As part of the campaign, BCA wants to become more self-reliant, and rely less on members’ dues. With the success of the Campaign for Buddhism from 1982-1992, Campaign BCA – The 21st Century’s goal is to build upon the foundation left by the first campaign. Building on the BCA Endowment Fund of over $17 million will allow funds to be used annually and allow for continued growth for future programs.